TARGETED updates to the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) are required, the Australian Logistics Council says, reflecting the “operational complexity” and changes occurring across Australia’s supply chain and freight logistics sector.
In its submission to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the ALC highlighted that current occupational classifications did not fully capture the breadth of skills, training requirements and responsibilities across the supply chain.
The ALC said key roles across road, rail, ports, air freight and warehousing were inconsistently represented at appropriate skill levels, while emerging occupations in automation, digital logistics, sustainability and cybersecurity remained largely absent.
The submission also identified persistent workforce shortages across critical occupations, including truck drivers, rail operators, port workers and supply chain specialists.
ALC chief executive Hermione Parsons said accurate classification was essential to ensuring workforce data reflects the realities of the supply chain and freight logistics industry.
“Supply chain and freight logistics is a highly skilled, interconnected system, and that complexity needs to be reflected in how occupations are classified,” Dr Parsons said.
“When classification does not capture the true level of skill and responsibility across the supply chain, it limits the ability of governments and industry to plan effectively and respond to workforce challenges.”
The ALC stated that improving the “granularity and responsiveness” of OSCA would support more informed decision-making across workforce planning, skills investment and migration policy, while ensuring emerging roles were visible in labour market data.
The ALC said it would continue to work with the ABS to support the development of OSCA 2027, including through the provision of industry data, evidence and engagement to ensure the classification framework reflects the evolving needs of Australia’s supply chain and freight logistics sector.